The Calling (Book 7 of The Blood & Brotherhood Saga) (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) by Jeremy Laszlo Read Free Book Online Page B

true?” Garret questioned, his face scrunching up slightly.
    “Anything is possible, especially where power is concerned.”
    “Then from here on I will sing a different tune. Ishanya cannot be blamed, but Seth must be held accountable for his crimes. If he ever so much as sets foot in my kingdom again he will pay for his misdeeds.”
    “I think you wise to declare as much,” Ashton said with a nod. “Though it is a shame that you must lose your brother in such a manner.”
    Inwardly he was smiling wickedly. The seed had been planted. He knew of the king’s impotence. The goddess had told him this much and more. Now all he needed to do was nourish the information he had planted in Garret’s mind and find a way to remind him of his weakness.
    Noticing that his mount had stopped drinking and now was lazily chomping on the half frozen, brown grass at the pond’s edge, he turned the beast around and climbed back into the saddle. Both the king and the dwarf followed within seconds and again they were galloping south. Eventually the farmlands turned to wild plains and Ashton rode in a half dream, imagining what power he would be granted when he accomplished the task given to him by the dark queen.

Chapter Five
    Hearing the yells of alarm and screams of panic from below, Seth had no doubt he had been spotted. Perhaps it had been ill-advised to go in closer for a better view of what they could potentially be facing. Even so, he had learned much using both his eyes and his vision. There were many armed men down there, but they weren’t soldiers. They carried no banners and wore mismatched armor. No. These were sell-swords—mercenaries hired to protect something or someone in the line of wagons, carriages, and carts. Armies like Sigrant’s had mercenaries, but this was not an army.
    Among those below were two blessed by the gods. Immediately Seth locked onto the aura of one blessed by Zeranthil, knowing well the god’s love of gifting power over fire. If the woman invoked her power, Seth would sever her connection. The other blessing was unfamiliar to him. He could feel and see the power there and it was obvious that the man’s blessing was invoked and his connection with his god already in place, but Seth knew not the man’s gift. He didn’t like not knowing, but presumed that whatever it was, should it be turned against him, he would be able to defend himself.
    Having already been spotted, he swooped low again for another look. Carts, wagons, and carriages, all surrounded by people. This wasn’t an army, it was a trading caravan, or perhaps a supply run to Sigrant’s army several weeks too late.
    With the twangs of bowstrings below, and the beginnings of an organized defense building, Seth tucked his wings and plummeted down towards the ground like a wayward missile thrown from a siege engine. Spinning as he plummeted, he struck the ground hard, bending low and catching his balance with one hand pressed to the soil. Stretching his wings out to their full span, he tucked them in quickly to decrease the size of target he made. Then, using his power to enhance his voice, he spoke out above the screams and shouts.
    “I do not wish to harm you,” he stated loudly, but calmly.
    “It’s a demon! Loose arrows!” a voice came from the crowd as twangs filled the air once more.
    With a flick of his wrist a transparent wall of green flame leapt up from the ground, creating a barrier that consumed the wooden shafts with little more than a hiss and a snap. Dropping the barrier once more, Seth tried yet again to reason with them.
    “I will not harm you if you put down your weapons,” he announced more sternly.
    It took more than a minute of shouted confusion, but eventually one voice carried back to Seth, above those of the other fearful men.
    “What are you, demon? Why’d you block our path?”
    “I am Prince Seth of Valdadore, and I only came to ensure that you were not my enemies,” he answered